Sounds and Vocal Behavior

The song of Rufous-bellied Nighthawk is described as "a series of even-pitched or slightly descending kwa kwa kwa kwa notes" (Cleere 1998); "a rapidly delivered series of notes that gradually descend in pitch, e.g., kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-ko" (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001b); and "a descending series of hoarse rising whistles, recalling Common Potoo [Nyctibius jamaicensis]: WEEE weeee weeuu" (Lane, in Schulenberg et al. 2010).

For a representative audio recording with sonogram, see audio

The song is given both in flight (Cleere 1998, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001b, Lane in Schulenberg et al. 2010) and also when perched (Lane, in Schulenberg et al. 2010).

Other vocalizations of Rufous-bellied Nighthawk include "a muffled pow, a series of muffled rising coos, and a low growl" (Lane, in Schulenberg et al. 2010).

None reported.